Michael Pachla: Sabres "B-squad" hold it's own at TOR. Leafs in BUF tonight

If you aint first yer last..

Pach, you are behind the times. Pommer out, Tage in - on Jack's right. How exciting!

Pach, you are behind the times. Pommer out, Tage in - on Jack's right. How exciting!
- SabreWest

very cool

What I learned...
Guhle isn't NHL ready, just quite yet, give him some time.
Baptiste hasn't done much to improve his standing..
Sobotka is an NHL player
Girgensons played well
Olafson has some SPEED, didn't get to see his much talked about shot...
Nylander is looking like a solid prospect now.
Middlestat probably shouldn't match up against John Tavares

Video worked for me now... sweet goal from Thompson and his speed has been better than advertised at time of the trade for sure. Just keep hearing he takes shifts off and I'm not sure how well that will sit with Housley from a young guy.

Mittelstadt is going to have some growing pains this year for sure. I almost wish he would spend half a season in Rochester, if we're being honest about his game right now. I love the kid, though, and believe he will be a star for the Sabres. He reminds me of Tim Connolly once he came into his own, but before the concussion problems.

Baptiste isn't going to make this team right now and I almost wonder if he came to camp discouraged. His effort has not been anywhere near what I expected.

Thompson reminds me of a bigger Stafford (when he first came up to NHL)... hoping Tage finds a way to be more consistent with his effort level. Also believe he would benefit from half a season in Rochester, showing him he needs to earn it with better consistency. Kid does have good hands though, without a doubt!


I am really liking Berglund and Sobotka. They will be more than just salary balancing once that trade is looked back on in a few years from now. If Girgensons can keep his effort high, I would expect him to beat out Larsson.

This team is likely still going to be a year away, but looking forward to when they have Sheary in the lineup with his speed and savvy play. Going to be much better to watch them play this year compared to the last 5 years or so! Thankfully!

Caught some of the game last night and wow that Thompson is going to be something special! I look forward to the QEW rivalry meaning something again.

What I learned...
Guhle isn't NHL ready, just quite yet, give him some time.
Baptiste hasn't done much to improve his standing..
Sobotka is an NHL player
Girgensons played well
Olafson has some SPEED, didn't get to see his much talked about shot...
Nylander is looking like a solid prospect now.
Middlestat probably shouldn't match up against John Tavares
- notalent

Agreed. Still waiting to see if Olofsson can get his shot off against NHL competition, so far far, it doesn't look like it. Asplund struggled with Tavares as well. Guhle, Asplund, and Olofsson should all start in Rochester. Sobotka and Girgs showed exactly why you need to keep some vets around.

Since seeing Thompson in the Prospects Challenge I have really liked his game and last night buttressed that feeling.

Guhle is an AHLer at the moment

I have never been a fan of Baptiste or expect him to be anything but a borderline NHLer if that.

Nylander, now that he is healthy and maybe his head is on straighter, seems like he might be a top 6 player.

Mitts was a let down at Prospects for most of it and didn't show a heck of a lot last night either. Not sure if he was playing on adrenaline when he got here last year but not the same player at the moment. He maybe needs top line players to bring out his talent.

Hickey showed some promise last night, he might be a call-up sometime this year.

Pilut is going to be a Sabres regular sooner than later. He plays with poise and skates well, has some skill. He might start off in Rochester but he won't be there long.

Don't get too excited! That was the Leafs B squad too.. Wasn't even close to their full roster.

Don't get too excited! That was the Leafs B squad too.. Wasn't even close to their full roster.
- Gusto

@Gusto

So 2/3 of your top 6 forward group and top defense pair is your “B” squad ? Weird. You realize the Sabres played essentially nobody last night right ?

The toe drag goal was off the hizzay. Not just the toe drag - the shot was a laser.

@Gusto

So 2/3 of your top 6 forward group and top defense pair is your “B” squad ? Weird. You realize the Sabres played essentially nobody last night right ?
- Pegullaville

Hey we played a guy named Tage, Mitts and Casey Nelson!

Hey we played a guy named Tage, Mitts and Casey Nelson!
- GilPerreault11

Yes they are top prospects and should carve out a role with the team this year but as of right now are unproven. But yea I did forget about Norris Trophy Candidate Casey Nelson

@Gusto

So 2/3 of your top 6 forward group and top defense pair is your “B” squad ? Weird. You realize the Sabres played essentially nobody last night right ?
- Pegullaville

The math gets weird with Nylander holding out, but 2/3 of our top 6 is not really accurate.

Tavares, Marner, and inexplicably Hyman.

That's half.

Matthews and Marleau to go tonight.

But yeah, as a general rule/unspoken gentlemen's agreement, you always play your stronger lineup at home.

Leafs seem to be going with a pretty even split squad this year, though. Stronger defence last night, but #1 goalie tonight.

@Gusto

So 2/3 of your top 6 forward group and top defense pair is your “B” squad ? Weird. You realize the Sabres played essentially nobody last night right ?
- Pegullaville

there were 7 regulars in that lineup for the Leafs last night. And Hyman only played 6 minutes. as I said.. Not even close to the full lineup.

there were 7 regulars in that lineup for the Leafs last night. And Hyman only played 6 minutes. as I said.. Not even close to the full lineup.
- Gusto

7 regulars over possibly 2 regulars on the Sabres. Once again I don’t see why we can’t condemn the Rochester Americans for staying in the game last night that the leafs should have won by 3.

@Gusto

So 2/3 of your top 6 forward group and top defense pair is your “B” squad ? Weird. You realize the Sabres played essentially nobody last night right ?
- Pegullaville

Luckily you guys won't have to rely on that Sieve you had in net last night.. oh wait...

7 regulars over possibly 2 regulars on the Sabres. Once again I don’t see why we can’t condemn the Rochester Americans for staying in the game last night that the leafs should have won by 3.
- Pegullaville

You can condemn them all you want.

The math gets weird with Nylander holding out, but 2/3 of our top 6 is not really accurate.

Tavares, Marner, and inexplicably Hyman.

That's half.

Matthews and Marleau to go tonight.

But yeah, as a general rule/unspoken gentlemen's agreement, you always play your stronger lineup at home.

Leafs seem to be going with a pretty even split squad this year, though. Stronger defence last night, but #1 goalie tonight.
- Atomic Wedgie

I meant to say 2/3 of the top 9 my mistake. Tavares, Marner, Kadri, Brown, Hyman (I know he left early but the intent was there). The sabres played prospects and career AHLers

The math gets weird with Nylander holding out, but 2/3 of our top 6 is not really accurate.

Tavares, Marner, and inexplicably Hyman.

That's half.

Matthews and Marleau to go tonight.

But yeah, as a general rule/unspoken gentlemen's agreement, you always play your stronger lineup at home.

Leafs seem to be going with a pretty even split squad this year, though. Stronger defence last night, but #1 goalie tonight.
- Atomic Wedgie

What has happened to Sparks?

Don't get too excited! That was the Leafs B squad too.. Wasn't even close to their full roster.
- Gusto

Suggesting that tonight is the Leaf's A-team is just nonsense. That was their stronger group and you know it.

I meant to say 2/3 of the top 9 my mistake. Tavares, Marner, Kadri, Brown, Hyman (I know he left early but the intent was there). The sabres played prospects and career AHLers
- Pegullaville

Brown's not really top 9, and that's still 5/9, NOT 2/3, but maybe this would be much easier if we both agree that we don't really give two poops about the outcome of last night's game - it doesn't matter.

Helluva toe drag, though.

Suggesting that tonight is the Leaf's A-team is just nonsense. That was their stronger group and you know it.
- Lunaion

I'd say the 2 squads are fairly even. .It's not our fault that we have too much talent to ice a true "B" team..